Early Life and Political Career
He was born in Montpellier, France, when his parents were fleeing German troops. He got into politics through the Algemeen Christelijk Werknemersverbond (General Christian Workers' Union) (ACW), a trade union which was closely linked to the Christelijke Volkspartij (Christian People's Party) (CVP). In 1981, he became Minister of Social Affairs and Institutional Reform, until 1988, when he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Communications and Institutional Reform.
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